Peggy LaFleur, 52, an Oak Park resident and newly appointed executive director for the Oak Park River Forest Infant Welfare Society, answered a few questions for the Oak Leaves on May 24. LaFleur officially started April 20. The Infant Welfare Society offers medical, dental and behavioral health care to low-income children in the Chicago area.

Q: This position was newly created, right?

A: Right. Now there's an executive director of the society and the clinic. The distinction is that the clinic is a program of the society. So the executive director oversees the society. But the membership is still very much needed, wanted and appreciated. Members have really been a driving force in the accomplishments of the society.

Q: What's your background?

A: I have a for-profit and not-for-profit background, and I've worked in health care and marketing. I have a master's degree in health administration and a master's degree in business administration. Previously, I was the senior director of major gifts at Loyola University Medical Center. I feel like I can leverage the full breadth of what we're doing here today.

Q: What's your main goal as executive director?

A: A big charge of my position now is to expand the membership, expand the mission and expand the programs. It's really to enable the society to do more.

Q: How long have you lived in Oak Park?

A: Since 1992. To live within the community you work is awesome. You're more engaged. I used to have a job that had me traveling internationally, so this is as much on the other end of the spectrum as you can be.

Q: The organization celebrates 100 years this year. What's kept IWS going all these years?

A: We have this community that recognizes the impact of this safety net of services for children, most of whom are from the west side of Chicago, Cicero, Joliet, Melrose Park. It's just awesome the type of support we've got. People are just fully committed to helping these families.

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